Sneak peek:

Frankel: You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

Dr. Rubin: I would make postpartum home visits universally mandated for all families. Ideally, this would be someone from the medical team — whether it be a nurse, a community worker, a doctor, or a midwife. Someone who can come TO the family without being called upon, who can lend an ear but also potentially prevent the need for at least one trek to the doctor (by being able to assess feeding, weight, jaundice, etc.), can assist with breastfeeding if needed, can answer questions, and simply show families and new moms that we have their backs. That can go so far in creating a better experience for everyone, better health outcomes, and ultimately a happier and more productive society for all! Idealistic for sure, but other countries do it, so we can too!

- Dr. Rubin

References Cited in Article

1.     World Health Organization (2021). International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems (11th ed.). https://icd.who.int/

2.     American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).

3.     Goldstein, Z., Rosen, B., Howlett, A., Anderson, M., & Herman, D. (2020). Interventions for paternal perinatal depression: A systematic review. Journal of affective disorders, 265, 505–510. https://doi-org.archer.luc.edu/10.1016/j.jad.2019.12.029

4.     Schiller, C. E., Meltzer-Brody, S., & Rubinow, D. R. (2015). The role of reproductive hormones in postpartum depression. CNS spectrums, 20(1), 48–59. https://doi-org.archer.luc.edu/10.1017/S1092852914000480

5.     Kaufman, Y., Carlini, S. V., & Deligiannidis, K. M. (2022). Advances in pharmacotherapy for postpartum depression: a structured review of standard-of-care antidepressants and novel neuroactive steroid antidepressants. Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, 12, 20451253211065859. https://doi-org.archer.luc.edu/10.1177/20451253211065859

6.     Tronick, E., Als, H., Adamson, L., Wise, S., & Brazelton, T. B. (1978). The infant's response to entrapment between contradictory messages in face-to-face interaction. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 17(1), 1–13. https://doi-org.archer.luc.edu/10.1016/s0002-7138(09)62273-1